So I debated for months after the reaction to that video yesterday – should I do a school visit with the coif or not? Finally, I decided I would go for it as time was running out and I would kick myself later if I hadn’t invited these really nice kids to try it out. Many of the boys had seen the coif in process at my house when Judy Laning was out (I had been coaching them in a Lego Robotics competition). It was so neat to see them come up to her and ask her what she was doing, truly interested.
So I asked my son’s teachers if I could bring the unfinished coif into class and do a little program. They were really excited so we made a plan. Faith would visit a 4-5th grade classroom.
Then the big Boston Globe article came out two days before I was to come into class. That really got it smokin’. So by the time I got there two days before Christmas break, the kids had been doing all kinds of activities to prepare for my visit. These teachers are cool – they made the Plimoth Jacket a whole week event. The kids had read the article for reading group, done worksheets to prepare questions for me for writing/comprehension, and then studied the relationship of the time frame to their Great Explorers unit in social studies. So they were pretty excited by the time I came in with the coif. As Christmas break was a day away, they gave me carte blanch to work with the class. We had a blast – I was there for three hours. I wish I had been able to do this more.
So we started out by going over the project and the history of these jackets in society. I had some great video on hand with more history to show them. Then we went on to talk about the Gilt Sylke Twist – you can see some of the kids examining the threads here.
Tomorrow – Embroidery meets science experiments with a bunch of kids
Tricia
You’re an awesome teacher! Wish I were a kid again!
I can’t imagine anymore fun then that, how I wish I could have been able to see beautiful stitching when I was young. It would have stirred my creative juices earlier when I was looking for something to satisfy my life and give me direction!!!
Cheers,
Margaret B
So good to see what a huge range of interest and activity can be provoked by something that seems so much of a minority interest. The teachers obviously got really excited about this and that created a whole week of memorable activities for the kids. I wish I’d had that sort of thing happen at school!
When I worked at Plimoth (1970s) I would go to my childrens’ elementary school prior to their visit, dressed in costume.I would role play with them as a visitor from the 17th century.
“How did you get here?”"I walked.”"Didn’t you use a car?”"What’s a car?”It was a lot of fun.
When they were in junior high we did a 17th century Thanksgiving using my recipes from Plimoth, also fun .The teachers really got into it and made it special.
Sounds like a great school…and they have Smart Boards, too, huh? Use things, smartboards
How wonderful of you to share this with children. I have ZERO aptitude as a teacher, and envy those who do. Maybe you created some future embroiderers with your visit!